Bioengineering and medical modular system

Abstract

The invention relates to bioengineering and medical modular systems for the realization of self-contained equipment for influencing biological media, cells, tissue and tissue-like structures as objects. These modular systems distinguish themselves, in particular, by the fact that the user-specific equipment for influencing the objects can be realized in a simple and economically effective way. A tub-shaped main body for placement of elements that can be combined with one another is provided for this. Furthermore, at least one container for a liquid medium, a pumping system for a liquid medium, connection elements, filters for the inlet and outlet of gas, at least one filter with a connecting element for a medium, elements for a connection to at least one bioreactor, at least one gas inlet unit or a combination of at least one bioreactor and at least one gas inlet unit are components of the modular system. Moreover, an area for at least one bioreactor, at least one gas inlet unit or a combination with at least one bioreactor and at least one gas inlet unit is available. Straight pipe sections, bent pipe sections, hose sections, connectors and/or distributors can ideally be connection elements here.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A bioengineering and medical modular system comprising self-contained equipment for influencing biological media, cells, and tissue structures as objects with
 a) a tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) with 
 at least one partition wall separating an area for at least one bioreactor ( 6 ) in each case and/or a gas inlet and an area for at least one container ( 2 ) for a liquid medium and 
 at least one pumping system ( 3 ) for the liquid medium on a wall on or in the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) or as a component part of a wall of the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ), 
 so that a drive unit or an energy source for the drive unit of the pumping system ( 3 ) can be connected from the outside in a detachable manner, 
 for placement of elements for the realization of the self-contained equipment, 
 comprising
 at least one sensor ( 28 ,  29 ) and/or device for identifying at least one substance of the liquid medium and/or in the liquid medium, 
 the container ( 2 ) for the liquid medium, 
 at least one filter ( 5 ) with a supply connector for the liquid medium, 
 couplings comprising straight pipe sections, bent pipe sections, hose sections, connectors and/or distributors in a T or Y shape, wherein the end areas of the hose sections can be pushed onto the other respective couplings to form a seal, 
 an oxygenator ( 7 ) as a gas inlet, 
 filters ( 4 ) for an inlet and outlet of gas, 
 
 and
 the bioreactor ( 6 ), 
 
 so that the container ( 2 ) with the liquid medium is connected via the pumping system ( 3 ) to the oxygenator ( 7 ), the bioreactor and the container ( 2 ) or a further container for the liquid medium, 
 and wherein 
 the bioreactor ( 6 ) has a housing ( 9 ) with a bundle ( 10 ) of hollow-fiber membranes opening towards the outside and cap-shaped end pieces ( 11 ), the housing ( 9 ) is a pipe section with connectors ( 12 ) for the space with the hollow-fiber membranes, end areas of the hollow-fiber membranes are in bases ( 13 ) made of plastic and the end pieces ( 11 ) each have connectors ( 14 ) for hollow spaces of the hollow-fiber membranes, 
 and 
 b) a seating station ( 30 ) for the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) with a controller, wherein, when the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) is placed in the seating station ( 30 ), the drive unit or the energy source for the drive unit is connected to the pumping system ( 3 ), on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the drive unit and either the sensor ( 28 ,  29 ) and/or the device for identifying at least one substance of the liquid medium and/or in the liquid medium are connected to the controller, 
 the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) has a rectangular base surface, 
 the pumping system ( 3 ) and/or at least one plug-type connector for the sensor ( 28 ,  29 ) and/or a coupling of the device for identifying at least one substance of the liquid medium and/or in the liquid medium is located on a wall of the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) and 
 the drive unit corresponding to the pumping system ( 3 ) and/or at least one plug-type connector corresponding to the plug-type connector for the sensor ( 28 ,  29 ) and/or the counterpart corresponding to the coupling of the device for identifying at least one substance of the liquid medium and/or in the liquid medium is arranged in a plane of the seating station ( 30 ). 
 
     
     
       2. The modular system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ), the container ( 2 ), the pumping system ( 3 ), the couplings, the filters ( 4 ,  5 ), the bioreactor ( 6 ) and the gas inlet, as component parts of the modular system, are sterile elements of the modular system. 
     
     
       3. A bioengineering and medical modular system comprising self-contained equipment for influencing biological media, cells, and tissue structures as objects with
 a) a tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) with 
 at least one partition wall separating an area for at least one bioreactor ( 6 ) in each case and/or a gas inlet and an area for at least one container ( 2 ) for a liquid medium and 
 at least one pumping system ( 3 ) for the liquid medium on a wall on or in the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) or as a component part of a wall of the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ), 
 so that a drive unit or an energy source for the drive unit of the pumping system ( 3 ) can be connected from the outside in a detachable manner, 
 for placement of elements for the realization of the self-contained equipment, 
 comprising
 at least one sensor ( 28 ,  29 ) and/or device for identifying at least one substance of the liquid medium and/or in the liquid medium, 
 the container ( 2 ) for the liquid medium, 
 at least one filter ( 5 ) with a supply connector for the liquid medium, 
 couplings comprising straight pipe sections, bent pipe sections, hose sections, connectors and/or distributors in a T or Y shape, wherein the end areas of the hose sections can be pushed onto the other respective couplings to form a seal, 
 an oxygenator ( 7 ) as a gas inlet, 
 filters ( 4 ) for an inlet and outlet of gas, 
 
 and
 the bioreactor ( 6 ), 
 
 so that the container ( 2 ) with the liquid medium is connected via the pumping system ( 3 ) to the oxygenator ( 7 ), the bioreactor and the container ( 2 ) or a further container for the liquid medium 
 and wherein 
 the bioreactor ( 6 ) has a tub-shaped base body ( 15 ) with at least one inlet ( 16 ) in each case and an outlet ( 17 ) in one of the side walls for the liquid medium and a cover ( 19 ) with or without at least one septum ( 24 ), said cover being capable of being removed from the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ), 
 and 
 b) a seating station ( 30 ) for the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) with a controller, wherein, when the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) is placed in the seating station ( 30 ), the drive unit or the energy source for the drive unit is connected to the pumping system ( 3 ), on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the drive unit and either the sensor ( 28 ,  29 ) and/or the device for identifying at least one substance of the liquid medium and/or in the liquid medium are connected to the controller, 
 the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) has a rectangular base surface, 
 the pumping system ( 3 ) and/or at least one plug-type connector for the sensor ( 28 ,  29 ) and/or a coupling of the device for identifying at least one substance of the liquid medium and/or in the liquid medium is located on a wall of the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) and 
 the drive unit corresponding to the pumping system ( 3 ) and/or at least one plug-type connector corresponding to the plug-type connector for the sensor ( 28 ,  29 ) and/or the counterpart corresponding to the coupling of the device for identifying at least one substance of the liquid medium and/or in the liquid medium is arranged in a plane of the seating station ( 30 ). 
 
     
     
       4. A bioengineering and medical modular system comprising self-contained equipment for influencing biological media, cells, and tissue structures as objects with
 a) a tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) with 
 at least one partition wall separating an area for at least one bioreactor ( 6 ) in each case and/or a gas inlet and an area for at least one container ( 2 ) for a liquid medium and 
 at least one pumping system ( 3 ) for the liquid medium on a wall on or in the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) or as a component part of a wall of the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ), 
 so that a drive unit or an energy source for the drive unit of the pumping system ( 3 ) can be connected from the outside in a detachable manner, 
 for placement of elements for the realization of the self-contained equipment, 
 comprising
 at least one sensor ( 28 ,  29 ) and/or device for identifying at least one substance of the liquid medium and/or in the liquid medium, 
 the container ( 2 ) for the liquid medium, 
 at least one filter ( 5 ) with a supply connector for the liquid medium, 
 couplings comprising straight pipe sections, bent pipe sections, hose sections, connectors and/or distributors in a T or Y shape, wherein the end areas of the hose sections can be pushed onto the other respective couplings to form a seal, 
 an oxygenator ( 7 ) as a gas inlet, 
 filters ( 4 ) for an inlet and outlet of gas, 
 
 and
 the bioreactor ( 6 ), 
 
 so that the container ( 2 ) with the liquid medium is connected via the pumping system ( 3 ) to the oxygenator ( 7 ), the bioreactor and the container ( 2 ) or a further container for the liquid medium, 
 and wherein 
 the bioreactor ( 6 ) has a tub-shaped base body ( 15 ) with at least one inlet ( 16 ) in each case and an outlet ( 17 ) in one of the side walls for the liquid medium, at least one barrier in the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ) or as a component part of the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ), a plate-shaped holder ( 18 ) with at least one receptacle having a membrane for the at least one object in or as a component part of the plate-shaped holder ( 18 ) in the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ), and a cover ( 19 ) with at least one septum ( 24 ), said cover being capable of being removed from the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ), wherein the inlet ( 16 ) and the outlet ( 17 ) are arranged in such a way that the height of the barrier determines the height of the surface of the liquid medium in the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ) and wherein at least the membrane of the receptacle is located in the liquid medium of the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ), 
 and 
 b) a seating station ( 30 ) for the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) with a controller, wherein, when the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) is placed in the seating station ( 30 ), the drive unit or the energy source for the drive unit is connected to the pumping system ( 3 ), on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the drive unit and either the sensor ( 28 ,  29 ) and/or the device for identifying at least one substance of the liquid medium and/or in the liquid medium are connected to the controller, 
 the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) has a rectangular base surface, 
 the pumping system ( 3 ) and/or at least one plug-type connector for the sensor ( 28 ,  29 ) and/or a coupling of the device for identifying at least one substance of the liquid medium and/or in the liquid medium is located on a wall of the tub-shaped and horizontal main body ( 1 ) and 
 the drive unit corresponding to the pumping system ( 3 ) and/or at least one plug-type connector corresponding to the plug-type connector for the sensor ( 28 ,  29 ) and/or the counterpart corresponding to the coupling of the device for identifying at least one substance of the liquid medium and/or in the liquid medium is arranged in a plane of the seating station ( 30 ). 
 
     
     
       5. The modular system according to  claim 4 , wherein the barrier is a partition wall ( 20 ) arranged at a distance in front of the outlet ( 17 ) in the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ) and that the inlet ( 16 ) and the outlet ( 17 ) are arranged in such a way that the height of the partition wall ( 20 ) determines the height of the surface of the liquid medium in the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ). 
     
     
       6. The modular system according to  claim 4 , wherein both a first partition wall ( 20 ) arranged at a distance in front of the outlet ( 17 ) and a second partition wall ( 20 ) arranged at a distance after the inlet are barriers in the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ) and that the inlet ( 16 ) and the outlet ( 17 ) are arranged in such a way that the height of the petition walls ( 20 ) determines the height of the surface of the medium in the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ). 
     
     
       7. The modular system according to  claim 4 , wherein the barrier is an area of a side wall with the outlet ( 17 ) of the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ), wherein the distance of the outlet ( 17 ) to the floor of the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ) is the height of the barrier and this distance determines the height of the surface of the medium in the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ). 
     
     
       8. The modular system according to  claim 4 , wherein the floor of the tub-shaped base body ( 15 ) has at least one protrusion and/or elevation ( 26 ) influencing the flow of a culture medium so that vortices exist in the flow of the culture medium.